The party season is approaching and, yes, I know some people just love to give parties. My mother liked to entertain. I can remember as a child passing around the smoked salmon and cream cheese canapes to her dinner guests. I think she really liked having people over and expected people to reciprocate with dinner and party and afternoon card game invitations. I think she and my dad were busy most Saturday nights.
Nowadays, it seems, people, at least in Manhattan, don't have guests over for dinner very much. In Manhattan couples go out with couples to restaurant. Those dinner parties for eight or ten are so rare that one is really amazed when a friend polishes the silver and invites you around. In the country where many New Yorkers go on weekends it is much more social. People do have people over for lunch or dinner,and, I think, that is one of the reasons New Yorkers go away for weekends. For some old-fashioned social life.
I am a nervous hostess and, I must admit, a reluctant one. Everyone once in a while I do give a cocktail party but I am always apprehensive beforehand. What if nobody shows up--or so few people come that the ones who are here are really bored. What if I don't have enough food, drink, little napkins. Usually everything turns out fine. Afterward, I say I must do this more often. Then I don't. But, I think, one has to entertain not only for the sake of friendship. But, just as important,it makes you clean your house!
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